Before i get to the nitty-gritty figures, let me remind you that that has been the attitude of the Knysna Municipality of Knysna, particular the Democratic Alliance and their partner in crime,  Municipal Manager, Lauren Waring. On this blog, i’ve rammed that point home because the DA’s Original Lies to Knysna were the election promises of austerity, transparency and an open-door policy.

The Public Does NOT Have the Right to Know

Early on, i weathered a lot of name-calling and slander from white people. They never substantiated so i can only, logically, assume their bias –  how dare i, as a white person, challenge the very political party that white people had pinned their future safety, security and future on? I repeat, for new readers, that i do not support the ANC – they suck too! The main difference between the 2 parties is that the DA is better at controlling the media and hiding their true agenda. The more power the DA wins, the more they become the ANC. We need leaders whose only allegiance is to Knysna (not be-damned party politics).

The Public DOES Have the Right to Know!

Well, a lot has happened in Knysna the past 2 years. The Knysna public has become painfully wiser through experience; not deliberate self-education but rather because the obstruction to public will and information has grown so large so as to step out from the shadow it hid behind. I have done my best to shine a light in those awkward corners, particularly focusing on Mayor Georlene Wolmarans, Deputy Mayor Esme Edge and Speaker Michelle Wasserman (the Original Liars).

In our town, where salaries are so low and so many are unemployed, getting into politics is the holy grail ’cause, by Knysna standards, you can live like royalty. That makes politics vicious and is the commonality no matter what banner one stands behind. Ward Committees, as ineffective as they are, can be the breeding ground for councillors but with my recent experience of Ward 10 (the most important ward as it represents town centre) and its members Dee Hollely and Kevin Grinaker , it’s obvious that the rot starts early on (i will report on that next month).

Knysna’s politicians have failed to put important issues such as crime, drug addiction, cultural integration and small business failure at the forefront of their agenda. They have manipulated public perception and outright lied. They are Knysna’s version of Pink Floyd’s Wall.

There isn’t a politician in Knysna worth their salary!

Here are the annual salaries of Knysna’s politicians/councillors as at 2011/2012 i.e. they will be higher now:

• Executive Mayor – 630 735     (R42 000 increase on 2011)
• Executive Deputy Mayor – R508 356
• Speaker – R508 356
• Richard Dawson – R477 402
• Magda Williams – R477 402
• Louise Hart – R477 402
• Remaining Councillors – over R21 000

The amount then was R5.6million but it has allegedly gone up to R5.8million.

Despite the economic dangers Knysna is experiencing, all political parties voted themselves an increase last year!

PS: I’m happy to have these figures corrected or updated so if you have the info, please share.